Single phase composition

ABSTRACT

Single phase compositions consisting essentially of methyl esters of C6-C12 fatty acids and specific nonionic emulsifiers in a ratio of esters to emulsifiers of from about 1:1.2 to about 3: 1, said composition being coupled by a critical amount of water.

United States Patent [72] inventor Edward J. Conldln Forest Park, Ohio [21 Appl. No. 786,761 [22] Filed Dec. 24,1968 (45] Patented Nov. 16, 1971 [73] Assignee The Proctor & Gamble Company Cincinnati, Ohio [541 SINGLE PHASE COMPOSITION 10 Claims, No Drawings [52] US. Cl 71/106, 71/78, 7l/DIG.l [5 l] Int. Cl A0ln 9/24 [50] Field otSearch 71/78, 106

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,057,804 l0/l962 Berkeley et al. 252/118 3,326,664 6/l967 Tso 71/78 3,340,040 9/l967 Tso 71/78 OTHER REFERENCES Tao et ai., Inhibition of Tobacco Axillary Bad Growth, etc., I965) J. Ag. Food Chem. l3, pp. 78- 81 I965) Temple et aL, The Efi'ect of Surfactants on the Water Sal. etc.," (1963) Weeds, Vol. ll, No. 4, pp. 297- 300 1963) McCutcheon, Detergents & Emulsifiers I966 Ann.," p. 210 (1966)TP990 D4 Jansen et al., Effects of Surfactants on the Herb. Act. etc.;" (1961 Weeds, Vol. 9, No.3, pp. 38l- 384 and 390.

Primary Examiner-Lewis Gotts Assistant Examiner-G. Hollrah Attorneys-Robert B. Aylor and Richard C. Witte ABSTRACT: Single phase compositions consisting essentially of methyl esters of C -C fatty acids and specific nonionic emulsifiers in a ratio of esters to emulsifiers of from about l:l.2 to about 3:], said composition being coupled by a critical amount of water.

FIELD THE INVENTION This invention relates to concentrated compositions which when diluted with water form stable emulsions suitable for application to plants to kill meristematic tissue without damaging mature tissue or subsequent'plant growth. (E.g., as chemical "pinching" agents for ornamental plants, trees and flowers.) Such compositions are prepared at a central location and sold to the eventual user who prepares a more dilute aqueous emulsion. Accordingly it is desirable to have single phase compositions which are homogeneous on a molecular scale to ermit the eventual user to accurately measure the amount of material being used. It is also esthetically desirable to have a clear single phase composition.

PRIOR ART flowers, e.g., azaleas.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The clear, single-phase concentrated compositions of this invention which are suitable for dilution with water to form emulsions for use as chemical pinching agents for plants consist essentially of: v

A. a mixture of 1. methyl ester of straight chain saturated fatty acid containing from about six to about 12 carbon atoms and 2. fatty acid ester of polyethoxylated sorbitan wherein the fatty acid contains from about ten to about l8 carbon atoms and wherein there are from about five to about 80 ethoxy moieties per molecule; the ratio of said methyl esters to said fatty acid esters of polyethoxylated sorbitan being from about 3:1 to about 121.2; and A B. as a coupling agent to make said composition clear and single-phase, from about 4 percent to about 16 percent of water by weight of the total composition.

THE METl-lYL ESTER labout 60 percent methyl octanoate and from about 35 percent to about 45 percent methyl decanoate. It is understood that gsmall amounts of fatty acid esters containing fatty acids having ;less than six and more than 12 carbon atoms can be used, but lthis is generally undesirable and should be minimized. The gsource of the fatty acids used is not critical and can be either a inaturalsource such as coconut oil or a synthetic source.

THE EMULSIFIER The emulsifiers for the methyl esters in the aqueous emul- ISIOIIS (chemical pinching agents) formed from the concentrated compositions of this invention are fatty acid esters of polyethoxylated"sorbitan. Suitable fatty acids useful in forming the esters of polyethoxylated sorbitan include: decanoic, undecanoic, dodecanoic, tridecanoic, tetradecanoic, pentadecanoic, hexadecanoic, heptadecanoic, octadecanoic, and octadecanoic acids or mixtures thereof. From about 10 to about 30 ethoxy moieties per molecule are preferred for ease of formulation and efi'ectiveness of the diluted composition as hereinafter described as a chemical pinching agent. Preferred emulsifiers which give the most stable emulsions for use as chemical pinching agents with minimum plant damage (phytotoxicity) are: dodecanoate ester of polyethoxylated sorbitan containing an average of about 20 ethoxy moieties per Qmolecule; oleate-ester of polyethoxylated sorbitan containing an average of about 20 ethoxy moieties per molecule; and Idodecanoate ester of polyethoxylatd sorbitan containing an gaverage of about five ethoxy moieties per molecule. The most preferred emulsifier is the dodecanoate ester of polyethoxylated sorbitan containing an average of about 20 ethoxy moieties per molecule.

The preferred ratio of methyl ester to emulsifier (fatty acid ester of polyethoxylated sorbitan) is from about 2:1 to about 1:12 and the most preferred ratiois about 1:1. These ratios are preferred for maximum pinching at minimum phytotoxicity.

The preferred amount of water is from about 6 percent to about 12 percent by weight of the composition and the most preferred amount is about 10 percent by weight of the composition. These arnounts of water allow leeway in formulation w 'tt qsstetsrss s a s-r lesa ts r The compositions of this invention can be readily diluted with water, either by adding water to the composition or by adding the composition to water for form stable aqueous emulsions containing from about 2 percent to'ab'out 12 per .cent of the methyl ester. These emulsions are especially adapted for application to a wide variety of shrubs, trees and ,flowers for the purpose of killing meristematic tissue and ithereby accomplishing the pinching" without adverse effect ion mature tissues or subsequent plant development. Examples of plants which can be treated are: ageratum, coleus, cotton, Imarigold, peanut, snapbean, snapdragon, soybean, tomato, carnation, chrystanthemum, forsythia, geranium, apple, azalea, chamecyparis, elm, eyonymous, juniper, kolkwitzia, ligustrum, lonicera, maple, paper birch, pyrancantha, taxus, weigela and pear. x

All parts, percentages and ratios herein are by weight unless otherwise stated.

EXAMPLEI t tional water was added to make the total amount of water' about 16.8 percent by weight of the composition, the com- The following table defines formulas of compositions which position again became cloudy indicating the presence of a illustrate the invention I second phase.

Composltion Methyl Ester 45 48 42 45 45 45 45 47 45 60 6o 60 46 55 50 47 49 40 Distribution by weight:

Methyl hexanoate 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 ,4 4 Methyl heptanoate. 5 Methyl octanoate 56 56 3 2 2o 30 56 56 56 30 3 3 20 56 56 55 56 Methyl nonanoate. 40 30 30 40 Methyl decanoate" 3 40 30 38 38 38 30 95 95 40 38 38 38 38 Methylundeeanoate.. 5 5 Methyl dodecanoate---" 2 2 Polyoxyethylene (20) sorbitan mono(1-oetadecenoate) (Tween 80) 45 25 30 Polyoxyethylene (20) sorbitan monododeeanoate (Tween 20) 45 48 42 45 45 45 30 30 46 38 38 47 49 40 Polyoxyethylene (5) sorbitan monododecanoate (Tween 21) 47 20 Water 4 16 10 10 10 10 6 10 10 10 10 s 7 12 '6 2 Composition s 1-16 are clear, single-phase compositions Since ratios of methyl ester to emulsifier (Tween 20) above which when diluted with water give stable emulsions useful as 3:1 are not desirable for the preparation of emulsions useful as chemical pinching agents. For example, when any of the comchemical pinching agents, these ratios were. not explored, but positions 1-16 are mixed with water to give an emulsion conwithin the range from 'about 1:12 to about 3:l methyl taining about 4 percent methyl ester and are thereafter ap- 'ester/Tween 20, the compositions were two phase unless couplied (to the point where the emulsion runs off the plant) to pled with from about 4 percent to about -16 percent water by azalea plants which have grown for about nine weeks since iweight of the composition. their last pinching the azalea plants are pinched"-without apfi" preciable damage to the total plant.

Compositions l7 and 18 are outside the scope of this invention and contain two phases despite the fact that they are only just outside the limits.

What is claimed is: 1. Clear, single-phase concentrated composition suitable for .dilution with water to form emulsions for use as chemical pinching agents for plants consisting essentially of: A. a mixture of EXAMPLE n t 1. methyl ester of straight chain saturated fatty acid contain- .ing from about six to about 12 carbon atoms and til mixtures of the following comhthhttohs'of ingredients 2. fatty acid ester of polyethoxylated sorbitan wherein the which h y indicating the P t more than :fatty acid contains from about 10 to.about 18 carbon atoms one Ph were tftta'ted at room temperature wlth water to Qand wherein there are from about five to about 80 ethoxy the Polht of cleanhg mto one Phase and on to the next moieties per molecule; the ratio of said methyl esters to said Point whell'e the P 8 became ctoudy- 4o fatty acid esters of polyethoxylated sorbitan being from about 3:1 to about l:l.2;and ;B. as a coupling agent to make said composition clear and single-phase, from about 4 percent to about 16 percent of water Percent water t by weight of the total composition.

88 3 2 83 2. The composition of claim 1 wherein the methyl ester is 20 selected from the group consisting of methyl octanoate,

Tween 5. o 16.6 methyl nonanoate, and methyl decanoate. g tfffFffifPiQ.-- III; 3 4 y 3. The composition of claim 1 wherein the fatty acid ester of lfiil tsyl tl polyethoxylated sorbitan is selected from the group consisting M51151 est er'fif 15551115; of dodecanoate ester of polyethoxylated sorbitan containing z ffig g --6 5.8 6.3 an average of about 20 ethoxy moieties per molecule; oleate ester of polyethoxylated sorbitan containing an average of about 20 ethoxy moieties per molecule; and dodecanoate ester of polyethoxylated sorbitan containing an average of about five ethoxy moieties per molecule.

4. The composition of claim 1 wherein the ratio of methyl The above data indicate that within the range of from about 4 Percent to about 16 p l' y Weight fthe compost ester to fatty acid ester of polyethoxylated sorbitan is about tion, it is possible to clarify mixtures of methyl esters and fatty acid esters of polyethoxylated sorbitan (emulsifier) as herein- The composition of claim 1 containing from about 6 before described. However, it should be noted that with some cent to about 12 percent water. of the emulsifier/methyl ester combinations, the range of the 6. The composition of claim 1 wherein the methyl ester is amou t O Water q Couple y) the composition selected from the group consisting of methyl decanoate and is smaller than the range from about 4 percent to about 16 mixtures f methyl decanoate and methyl octanoate i Petceht y Weight of the composition Accoldihgly a certain ing no more than 75 percent by weight of methyl octanoate. amount of variation can be expected within the broad range The composition f claim 6 containing f om about 50 set forth herein. It should also be noted that some water can be percent to about 60 percent methyl octanoate and f m abou! introduced with the emulsifier and/or methyl ester. 3 5 percent to about 45 percent h l decanoate 8. The composition of claim 7 wherein the fatty acid ester of EXAMPLE polyethoxylated sorbitan is dodecanoate ester of polyethoxy- Tween 20 was titrated at room temperature with the mixlhted sorbitan containing an average about 20 ethoxy moieture of methyl esters of composition 1 in example 1. At a ratio tles P moleculeof approximately 1;1 2 ester/Ivan 20 the composi The composition of claim 8 wherein the ratio Of methyl i h m l d i di i h presence f second phase ester to fatty acid ester of polyethoxylated sorbitan is about -After the composition became cloudy, the mixture was titrated with water to find that at approximately 5.1 percent 10. The composition of claim 9 containing about 10 percent water by weight of the composition the composition became water. clear indicating the formation of a single phase. After addit 2mg UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION November 16 1971 Patent No. 3,520,712 Dated Inventor) Edward J. Conklin It is certified that error appears in the above-identified patent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as show below:

on the front page, Assignee, "The Proctor & Gamble Company! should read --'I'he Procter & Gamble Company-.-.

Column 1, line 21, "1,282-3" should read --l,3823- Signed and sealed this 13th day of June 1972- SEAL") Attest:

ROBERT GOTTSCHALK EDWARD mmnmcmza, JR. Attesting Officer Commissioner of Patents 

2. fatty acid ester of polyethoxylated sorbitan wherein the fatty acid contains from about 10 to about 18 carbon atoms and wherein there are from about five to about 80 ethoxy moieties per molecule; the ratio of said methyl esters to said fatty acid esters of polyethoxylated sorbitan being from about 3:1 to about 1:1.2; and B. as a coupling agent to make said composition clear and single-phase, from about 4 to about 16 percent of water by weight of the total composition.
 2. The composition of claim 1 wherein the methyl ester is selected from the group consisting of methyl octanoate, methyl nonanoate, and methyl decanoate.
 3. The composition of claim 1 wherein the fatty acid ester of polyethoxylated sorbitan is selected from the group consisting of dodecanoate ester of polyethoxylated sorbitan containing an average of about 20 ethoxy moieties per molecule; oleate ester of polyethoxylated sorbitan containing an aVerage of about 20 ethoxy moieties per molecule; and dodecanoate ester of polyethoxylated sorbitan containing an average of about five ethoxy moieties per molecule.
 4. The composition of claim 1 wherein the ratio of methyl ester to fatty acid ester of polyethoxylated sorbitan is about 1:1.
 5. The composition of claim 1 containing from about 6 to about 12 percent water.
 6. The composition of claim 1 wherein the methyl ester is selected from the group consisting of methyl decanoate and mixtures of methyl decanoate and methyl octanoate containing no more than 75 percent by weight of methyl octanoate.
 7. The composition of claim 6 containing from about 50 to about 60 percent methyl octanoate and from about 35 to about 45 percent methyl decanoate.
 8. The composition of claim 7 wherein the fatty acid ester of polyethoxylated sorbitan is dodecanoate ester of polyethoxylated sorbitan containing an average of about 20 ethoxy moieties per molecule.
 9. The composition of claim 8 wherein the ratio of methyl ester to fatty acid ester of polyethoxylated sorbitan is about 1:1.
 10. The composition of claim 9 containing about 10 percent water. 